BVI Spring Regatta: Warm Water. Hot Racing. Solid Sponsors. Memorable Parties!
by Michelle Slade / BVISR 7 Mar 05:14 AEDT
March 31-April 6 2025
The spectacular scenery and race courses of the BVI Spring Regatta draws sailors from all over the world to share its stunning islands and turquoise waters © Alex Turnbull / BVISR
In less than four weeks, the 52nd edition of the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival (BVISR) will get under way, this year welcoming a ten-strong VX One fleet returning to the BVI Spring Regatta after a long hiatus. First sailed in the BVISR and St Thomas International Regatta in 2016, this year the boats will compete in both events for the VX One Caribbean Cup 2025, a two-leg series sponsored by Evolution Sails. The opportunity to join this fun, fast fleet remains open with one boat still available for charter.
New to BVISR this year will be the use of mark set BOTS, also sponsored by Evolution Sails, on the VX One course. First used in high-performance events like the America's Cup and Sail GP, robotic buoys - BOTS - are now used in many international regattas and were recently used by the Royal BVI Yacht Club race committee team to run the RC44 Cup sailed at Nanny Cay Marina and Resort.
"We are thrilled to invite the VX One Class racers back to the BVI Spring Regatta where the tight fun racing is perfect for this high performance, competitive group of sailors," Chris Haycraft, chairman of the BVISR said. "We're grateful to Evolution Sails for sponsoring mark set BOTS for the VX One racecourse; BOTS are a relatively new technology to the Caribbean and in the BVI we are proud to be leading the charge in embracing this equipment locally."
BVISR is fortunate to have significant support from the BVI community, without whom the event simply could not exist. Generous sponsors who have supported the event for many years including Nanny Cay Resort and Marina who has been the gracious and accommodating host sponsor of the event for over 22 years.
Set in one of the finest and most central locations in the BVI, Nanny Cay is located on the south side of Tortola, between Road Town and West End providing the best marine services and facilities in what is one of the world's most popular sailing destinations.
Nanny Cay will sponsor the first race of the Sailing Festival on Tuesday April 1 (no joke), the Round Tortola Race for the Nanny Cay Cup. All parties will start and finish every evening in the Regatta Village, hosted by Nanny Cay.
Scrub Island Spa and Marina is the generous sponsor of The Scrub Island Invitational scheduled for Wednesday April 2, a western island morning race of approximately 15 NM to Marina Cay, Scrub Island's neighbouring sister island where the post-race beach festivities will take place.
RiteWay, the exclusive provisioner for the Regatta is also the distributor of the nostalgic Mount Gay Rum brand and will celebrate BVISR's long-time partnership with the rum brand on Mt Gay Race Day, the first day of BVISR Spring Regatta Racing. RiteWay will be looking for the oldest cap or shirt and giving away lots of great Mount Gay swag; they will also sponsor the perfect match with Coca-Cola for the signature Rum and Coke cocktail.
Long-time partners SOL and Portland Ship Yard continue to sponsor two racing circuits allowing for race courses that suit the diverse needs of different classes.
"We're thrilled to work with such amazing sponsors who have supported our event for so many years," Cayley Smit, Regatta Director, noted. "They are crucial to the success of the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival, and we hope our guests can support them in return while they are visiting the BVI."
If warm water and hot racing sounds good, registration is still open for the 2025 edition of the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival: bvispringregatta.org. While Moorings is completely sold out of monohull options, it's not too late to consider other charter options: bvispringregatta.org/charter_options. Leave the winter blues behind and join the party!
For further information on the BVI Spring Regatta visit: www.bvispringregatta.org.